Humans have different perspectives and stories change and are told in different ways as time passes. The Greek myth of King Midas and the Golden Touch, for example, has had both its story and characters altered. The short story “The Golden Touch”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the poem “from King Midas,” by Howard Moss both tell the same story, but has differences in the character portrayal and plot. Both versions have an instigator, someone who gives King Midas the touch. That is how they are similar, and is the only similarity in that aspect. The story never names the instigator, who is simply known as the stranger. In this version, he gives Midas the Golden Touch to teach him a lesson. “‘You are wiser than you were, King Midas!,’ said …show more content…
Both the story and poem agree that the princess is a kind and caring child. In the story, “[the princess] with a sweet and powerful impulse to comfort [the king], she started from her chair and… threw her arms affectionately about his knees.” She was turned to gold because she wanted to comfort him, showing her affection and kindness. This same kindness is shown in the poem when she sings, “A falling leaf in fall’s a thing to mourn.” The princess from the poem is the type of person who is sad over the death of any living thing, including something as seemingly insignificant as a leaf. The poem gives more depth to the princess as a character, as well. In the poem, she says, “Divided into two, I am a tree, the branches are too high for me to see, the roots too hidden from reality.” A unique way to think of a tree, it shows intelligence and thoughtfulness and not just naive kindness. Although there are many ways to interpret this line, it is most likely that the roots represent her father and the branches represent her future. The line also has notes of sadness, showing her worry for her father. Both the story and poem show her kindness, but the story portrays the princess as naive and impulsive, while the poem’s princess is more intelligent and